Silverware sorting device



Jan. 31, 1967 R. A. STUTZ SILVERWARE SORTI NG DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 23, 1964 INVENTOR 19/571/72 EL'UM) ATTORNEYS R. A. STUTZJan. 31, 1967 S ILVERWARE SORTING DEVI CE Fil ed Sept. 25, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ea 66/? ,9. sf ijpmwwv BY gflm 3M ATTORNEY5United States Patent 3,301,397 SILVERWARE SORTING DEVECE Roger A. Stutz,606 W. Ash t., Piqua, Ohio 45356 Filed Sept. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 398,5096 Claims. (Cl. 239-73) This invention relates to apparatus for sortingsilverware and like articles.

In large restaurants and kitchens of public institutions the handlingand sorting of silverware is a tedious and time-consuming procedure. Itinvolves much labor and a cost out of all proportion to the benefits ofthe services rendered.

The present invention is directed to alleviating this condition. Itprovides for sorting apparatus of a simple yet highly advantageousnature into which silverware may be introduced in bulk and whichautomatically sorts such silverware into its respective categories.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel sorting devicewhich is economical to fabricate, efficient and satisfactory in use,adaptable to a wide variety of applications and unlikely to malfunction.

Another object of the invention is to provide means facilitating anautomatic sorting of silverware and like articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means forsorting a variety of hand tools according to their respectivecategories.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel conveyormeans having particular utility in sorting silverware and other articlesof like configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel sorting devicepossessing the advantageous structural features, the inherentmeritorious characteristics and means and mode of use herein described.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected byLetters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts andcombinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter describedor illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviouslynot necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a generally schematic elevation view of asorting device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a generally schematic fragmentary plan view of conveyorapparatus embodied in the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view of an additional portion of theconveyor apparatus embodied in the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a further fragmentary view of the invention apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken on line 77 of FIG. 1.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

The invention embodiment illustrated provides a base framework 19including pairs of transversely aligned, vertically oriented legs 11, 12and 13. These legs are arranged in rectangularly oriented,longitudinally spaced relation. Interconnected to the legs 11, 12 and 13to either side of the framework 10, at points adjacent and spaced fromtheir tops, is a horizontal bar 14-. The bars 14 occupy a common plane.The leg members 12 are positioned intermediate of the legs 11 and 13,the latter of which define the respective ends of the framework. 7

Interconnecting the leg members 12 and 13, adjacent Patented Jan. 31,1967 and spaced from their bottoms, is a rectangular plate member 15.Fixed to bridge the top of the framework 10 is a table 16 constituting asorting platform. Mounted over and in fixed relation to one end of thetable 16 is a trough-shaped feeder 17.

The feeder 17 is in the nature of a receptacle which extends from pointsadjacent the supporting legs 11 to the general area of the legs 12. Itconsists, in the form illustrated, of three sections 18, 19 and 20. Thesection 18 positions at one extremity of the table 16, is closed to oneend and has downwardly convergent side portions 21. At their lowerextremities the sides 21 are bridged by a plate section 22 which isuniformly arcuate and generally concave in a transverse sense. Thetrough section 19 forms a direct extension of the section 18 andincludes downwardly convergent side portions 23. The latter relativelyconverge as they project to form extensions of the side portions 21. Thedependent extremities of the side portions 23 are bridged by a platesection 24. The section 24 forms an extension of plate section 22 andhas a similar cross-sectional configuration, modified to the extentdictated by the convergence sides 23. interconnecting with andrespectively forming extensions of the side portions 23 are parallelside sections 25 relatively spaced by a bottom plate portion 26. Thespacing of the side portions 25 conforms to the spacing of theconvergent extremities of the side portions 23. The plate section 26forms a narrow, generally rectangular continuation of the transverselyconcave plate sections 22 and 24 and together therewith provides thetrough with a chute-like base. As may be seen from the drawings, thebase of the trough-shaped feeder 17 is relatively inclined from thetrough section 18 to the trough section 20, the terminal point of thelatter descending to actually contact the surface of the table 16through the medium of interconnected rubber mounting pads. As a matterof fact all of the support elements for the feeder 17 are separated fromdirect contact with the table 16 by resilient mounting pads.

The plate section 26 includes, substantially the length thereof, alongitudinally extending central slot 28 which opens to the table 16.The latter includes a longitudinally extending slot 30 in directalignment with the slot 28. The slot 39 commences beneath and invertical alignment with the slot 28 and extends substantially to theremote end portion of the table 16 which is supported by the legs 13. Asmay be seen with particular reference to the drawings, the slot 313 isformed to have successively adjacent sections which, in a direction awayfrom the slot 28, are successively of greater width. In sequence, therespective slot sections are identified by the numerals 31, 32, 33, 34,35 and 36. Note that the slot portions 28 and 31, the major extent ofwhich are superposed, have a substantially identical width.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, fixed to bridge the intermediatelegs 12 in a plane immediately above and spaced from the plate 15 is asupport bracket 37. Fixedly mounted on the bracket 37 is a motor 38. Themotor drive shaft 39 projects vertically to extend through a bearingthereabove in the table 16 and to terminate immediately above the tableand perpendicular thereto. Fixed for rotation with the shaft 39 at aposition immediate below and in a plane parallel to the table 16 is asprocket wheel 40. A second and similar sprocket wheel 41 is fixed forrotation with the shaft 39 immediately above and in parallel spacedrelation to the table 16. It is to be noted that the shaft 39 orientsadjacent and to one side of the slot section 31 and relatively adjacentand to one side of the trough portion 20.

A stub shaft 42 is projected through and fixed for rotation in a secondbearing in the table top 16. The shaft 42 is positioned to the end ofthe table adjacent 3 the legs 13 and in a vertical plane to the one sideof the slot 30 which is occupied by the shaft 39. A sprocket wheel 43 isfixed for rotation with the stub shaft 42 in a plane common to thesprocket 40 and a further sprocket wheel 44 is similarly fixed forrotation with the shaft 42 in a plane common to the sprocket 41. Belowthe table 16 the sprockets 40 and 43 are interconnected by a continuouschain 45. The sprockets 41 and 44 are similarly interconnected by acontinuous chain 46. The chain 46 is so positioned to occupy a planeadjacent and generally parallel to the top surface of the table 16 andto the one side of the slot 34 Interconnected with and spacedlongitudinally of the chain 46, in a plane common thereto, are a seriesof perpendicularly projected rubber-like fingers 47. On drive of themotor 38 the fingers 47 so move and so extend to advance over the lengthof the slot 30 in the table 16.

It is to be noted that the one side section of the feeder trough 17 mostadjacent the sprocket 41 is cut back. This in conjunction with theposition of the sprocket 41 provides that, as the sprocket 41 is drivenby the shaft 39 and the continuous chain 46 advances over the sprocket,the projected fingers 47 first move into the trough portion 20 toadvance over the slot 28 formed in its base. The purpose and function ofthis structure will soon become obvious.

A series ofreceptacles 48 are positioned in longitudinally spacedrelation on the plate 15, each respectively below one of the slotsections 32 through 36.

Pivotally mounted between the bars 14, as seen in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, is a series of longitudinally spaced chute plates 49. Theplates 49 are pivotally suspended by means of laterally projected pins50 which seat in transversely aligned notches in the upper edges of theparallel bars 14.

Additionally projected from the lateral extremities of the plates 49through transversely aligned arcuate slots 51 in the bars 14 areexternally threaded pin portions 52. The projected ends of pins 52 mountnut-like clamping members 53 exterior to the bars 14. It may be readilyseen that on a release of its interconnected nutlike elements 53 a chuteplate 49 may be pivoted and fixed to the adjacent bars 14 in anyselected position of pivotal adjustment. The chute plates 49 are sospaced to each respectively present an inclined chute surface in thepath of a portion of the slot in the table 16. As will be described, thechute plates are each operative to direct articles that fall through therespectively associated slot portion, in the path of which it lies, to areceptacle 48 appropriately positioned on the platform 15 therebelow.

Mounted in connection with the feeder trough 17 are one or morevibrators 54. These may be of any conventional nature and of a size andquantity to induce an appropriate vibration of the feeder trough and aconsequent movement of contained articles longitudinally of its inclinedconcave base.

In use of the above described structure as a sorting unit forsilverware, the silverware is first deposited in a :shallow layer in theportion 18 of the feeder trough 17. When deposited, the handle portionsare preferably so oriented to project axially of the trough, in thedirection of the table 16. On energizing the vibrators 54, thersilverware items are caused thereby to maintain an alignmentlongitudinally of the feeder 17 and to be gradually moved down thecontinuous incline formed by the feeder base portions 22, 24 and 26. Asthe silverware is caused to move down this incline, the convergent sidesof the trough portion 19 cause a gradual limitation on the passage ofthe silverware to the point that only one item at a time will enter thetrough section 20. In circumstances which so require, appropriate blocksmay be inserted in the upper portions of the feeder trough to furtherinsure that only one item at a time will enter the trough sec- .tion 20.

As an item enters the trough section 20, induced by the vibrationimposed thereon, its handle portion proceeds first, moving down theincline of the base plate 26, so oriented to eventually positiondirectly over the slot 28 in the terminal portion of the feeder through17. At a particular point in its travel over the plate portion 26,induced by gravity, the handle of the silverware item drops through theslot 28 to depend, at its lower extremity, to and through the portion 31of the slot 38 in table 16. Since the slot 28 and table slot portion 31are so designed, the operating portion of the silverware item, such asthe blade, tines or bowl portion, as the case may be, cannot passtherethrough. The latter portions are thereby caused to have theirlateral extremities effectively project over and bear on the sides ofthe plate portion 26 which define the slot 28. Immediately after thepoint where a silverware item has its handle drop through the slot 28,which, of course, causes its operative portion to project vertically inreference to the table 16, one of the moving fingers 47 which advanceover the slot 39 comes into contact with and engages behind the item toadvance it longitudinally of the slot 3%, initially over the slotportion 31. As reviously mentioned, the slot portion 31 is so designedto prevent the drop therethrough of any item being pushed by the fingers47. This enables a positive drive and insures a positively controlledmovement of each silverware item prior to its arrival at a selecteddischarge station as defined by the variously enlarged sections of theslot 311.

In the example illustrated, the sections of the slot 3 1 are succesivelyenlarged to enable knives to drop through the slot section 32, forks todischarge through slot section 33, teaspoons to discharge through slotsection 34, tablespoons to discharge through slot section 35 and largerelements to discharge through the slot section 36. When the'fingers 47advance an item to a slot section which is wide enough to permit it todrop therethrough, the item does in fact drop. As it drops, it hits andis guided and deflected by the chute plate 49 therebelow to eventuallydrop to the appropriate receptacle 48 on the plate 15.

It may therefore be seen that on introduction of a layer of varioustypes of silverware to the feeder trough 17, the vibrators induce thesilverware to move longitudinally thereof, down the incline of its baseto a point where the silverware is separated to move item by itemthrough the trough section 26. In the course of movernent through thislatter portion of the feeder trough, the handle portions of thesilverware items drop through the slot 28 to depend vertically to thetable 15 and through its slot section 31. At this point, the position ofeach item is relatively stable and enables that as it is engaged by afinger 47 on the endless chain 46 it is positively advanced therebylongitudinally of the slot 39 to the point where the slot width providesthat it drops to the appropriate chute plate 49 and is guided thereby tothe appropriate receptacle 48. The operative procedure is simple, uniqueand highly effective. It is a tremendous time saver in the applicationdescribed and, of course, quite economical in its use.

It will be seen that the slot 36 may be proportioned to accommodate anyparticular series of items and to provide for drop thereof to storage orother receptacles in a particular sequence.

It will of course be obvious that the means schematically shown forinducing a feed of the silverware items to eventually enter the lot inthe table 16 is purely by way of example and not to be construed asprecisely limiting.

While the invention has been described in limited form and application,it will be readily obvious that other forms and applications thereof areevident therefrom. Such are considered to lie well within the scope andconcept of the present invention.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect,and the invention i therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for sorting silverware and like articles comprising aplatform having a longitudinally extending slot successive sections ofwhich are relatively expanded in width, means for directing silverwareto said platform to have the handles thereof drop through the narrowestportion of said slot and the operative portions laterally extend to besupported by the means defining said slot, and means for moving saidsilverware longitudinally of said slot in the process of which thesilverware items will respectively drop through an appropriate portionof the slot in correspondence with the nature and size of its operativeportion, said last mentioned means stabilizing said silverware in anupright position during movement longitudinally of said slot, the saidmeans for directing silverware to said platform consisting of a troughproviding a delivery chute having means in connection therewith forproperly orienting the silverware as it is directed to said platform,said last named means being constituted by vibrator structure.

2. A sorting device for silverware or the like, including a table havingan elongated slot of varying width, article of silverware installed insaid slot in an upright position with handles down and movedlongitudinally thereof dropping through the table at different locationsin said slot according to the article classification, means for feedingarticles to said slot, and means for advancing said articleslongitudinally of said slot and for simultaneously stabilizing them inan upright position, said means for feeding said articles to said slotcomprising a feeder trough to receive a supply of silverware, saidtrough narrowing as it approaches said slot and terminating in a portionaligned With said slot and of a size to pass single articles.

3. A sorting device for silverware, including a table having anelongated slot, one end of said slot being relatively narrow, portionsof said slot toward said other end being progressively wider, a troughfor delivering articles of silverware one. at a time to said one end ofsaid slot, said trough being positioned to serve as an entrance to saidslot and having a slotted portion at one end approximately conforming inwidth to the width of said slot at said one end, said trough beingoriented to place said slotted portion in superposed aligned relation tosaid one end of said slot whereby handles of silverware articlesengaging said slot-ted portion of said trough are guided to .and intosaid slot, means for vibrating said trough to advance said silverwarearticles to said slot, and other means for advancing said articleslongitudinally of said slot until they drop therethrough and formaintaining an upright position of said articles as they travel in saidslot.

4. A sorting device for silverware, including a table having anelongated slot, one end of said slot being relatively narrow, portionsof said slot toward said other end being progressively wider, a troughfor delivering articles of silverware one at a time to said one end ofsaid slot, said trough being positioned to serve as an entrance to saidslot and having a slotted portion at one end approximately con-formingin width to the width of said slot at said one end, said trough beingoriented to place said slotted portion in superposed aligned relation tosaid one end of said slot whereby handles of silverware articlesengaging said slotted portion of said trough are guided to and into saidslot, said one end of said trough having a reduced cross sectionconveniently to pass a single article, the opposite end of the troughbeing relatively wide to receive a number of such articles, the sides ofthe trough gradually narrowing from said opposite end to said one end.

5. A sorting device for silverware or the like, including a table havingan elongated slot progressively widened in steps from one toward theother end, a trough for delivering silverware articles handle first tosaid one end of said slot, said trough terminating in a slotted portionaligned with said slot to guide handles of said articles into said slot,said articles assuming in response thereto an upright position in saidslot substantially perpendicular to said table, and a train of movingfingers extending transversely of said slot to achieve an embracingrelation to upright silverware articles, said train movinglongitudinally of said slot and being positioned to receive articles asthey emerge from said trough and advance them along said slot, saidfingers stabilizing said articles in an upright position, bins inunderlying relation to said table to receive silverware articlesdropping through said slot at different steps thereof, and guide meansmounted for relative adjustable movement beneath said table andintermediate said slot and respective bins.

6. A sorting device for silverware or the like, including a table havingan elongated slot progressively widened in steps from one end toward theother end, a trough means having converging side portions for deliveringsilverware articles singly to said one end of said table slot, saidtrough means terminating at its narrow end in a slotted portion alignedwith said table slot to allow silverware to commence to positionvertically of said platform prior to reaching said table slot, oppositeends of said articles projecting above and below said table, and meansto engage projecting ends of said articles in spaced relation .to saidtable to stabilize said articles in an upright position as described,said means being movable longitudinally of said table slot to advancesaid articles along said table slot, said articles dropping through saidslot at different steps thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 932,749 8/ 1909Barnett 20999 2,549,316 4/1951 Kremer et a1 209-99 2,911,088 11/1959Ingham et al 19833 3,217,860 11/1965 Ganz l98l71 M. HENSON WOOD, JR.,Primary Examiner.

ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Examiner.

2. A SORTING DEVICE FOR SILVERWARE OR THE LIKE, INCLUDING A TABLE HAVINGAN ELONGATED SLOT OF VARYING WIDTH, ARTICLES OF SILVERWARE INSTALLED INSAID SLOT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WITH HANDLES DOWN AND MOVEDLONGITUDINALLY THEREOF DROPPING THROUGH THE TABLE AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONSIN SAID SLOT ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE CLASSIFICATION, MEANS FOR FEEDINGARTICLES TO SAID SLOT, AND MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID ARTICLESLONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SLOT AND FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY STABILIZING THEM INAN UPRIGHT POSITION, SAID MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID ARTICLES TO SAID SLOTCOMPRISING A FEEDER TROUGH TO RECEIVE A SUPPLY OF SILVERWARE, SAIDTROUGH NARROWING AS IT APPROACHES SAID SLOT AND TERMINATING IN A PORTIONALIGNED WITH SAID SLOT AND OF A SIZE TO PASS SINGLE ARTICLES.